Weekly Update 5.13.19

Weekly Update 5.13.19

“No, keep your mouth shut. Nobody wants to hear it. Our culture is very different, there is a lot of taboo and a lot of things you shouldn’t talk about. I guess you’re just supposed to keep things inside.” (Survey Interview, March 2016)“We weren’t supposed to share our problems. There was no such thing as a psychiatric illness. It wasn’t considered ‘God’s Will’.” (Survey Interview, March 2016)“I think there is a lot of anxiety because of society. We don’t fit into the American mainstream, we can’t because of our religious and cultural background and at the same time, we can’t wholly identify as Pakistani’s because we don’t hold all the same values as they do and we’ve evolved from that which puts us in a confused zone and can cause conflict and make things difficult for us in society. Especially for the children.” (Survey Interview, March 2016)Quotes from participants in the research paper Perceptions of Mental Health Amongst Pakistani-Americans by Arifa K. Ashraf, California State University - San Bernardino, June 2016

Welcome to Week Two in our series of Mental Health Awareness Month posts, WeCAN Friends. We’d like to spend a bit of time this week talking about finding mental health care that takes into account our own unique cultural backgrounds.To do that, we first have to answer the question, “What is a cultural background?” Culture is a particular group’s beliefs, customs, values and way of thinking, behaving and communicating. Cultural background affects how someone:

Views mental health conditions

Describes symptoms

Communicates with health care providers such as doctors and mental health professionals

Receives and responds to treatment

What Is Cultural Competence? When searching for a mental health care provider, many individuals look for someone who has Cultural Competence. Cultural competence is the behaviors, attitudes, and skills that allow a health care provider to work effectively with different cultural groups. Finding culturally competent providers is important because they understand the essential role that culture plays in life and health. A culturally competent provider includes cultural beliefs, values, practices and attitudes in your care to meet your unique needs.Here are some tips to finding a Culturally Competent provider:

Research Providers

Contact providers or agencies from your same cultural background or look for providers and agencies that have worked with people who have a similar cultural background.

Ask trusted friends and family for recommendations.

Look online or ask for referrals from cultural organizations in your community or trusted social media outlets.

If you have health insurance, ask the health plan for providers that fit your cultural background.

Ask Providers These Questions

Are you familiar with my community’s beliefs, values and attitudes toward mental health? If not, are you willing to learn about my cultural background and respect my perspective?

Do you have experience treating people from my cultural background?

Have you had cultural competence training?

Are you or members of your staff bilingual?

How would you include aspects of my cultural identity, such as age, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation, in my care?

Here are some other things you can do or say to help ensure that you or someone you know get the quality of care needed to find mental health:

Tell the provider about traditions, values and beliefs that are important to you.

Tell the provider what role you want your family to play in your treatment.

Learn about your condition, particularly how it affects people from your culture or community.

Look around the provider’s office for signs of inclusion. Who works there? Does the waiting room have magazines, signs, and pamphlets for you and your community?+

Christian Service Sermon: Christianity and EnvironmentalismSunday, May 12th, 2019 at Centre Congregational Church (193 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 10am. Atheists, agnostics, and those of differing faiths are welcome to attend.This sermon will be part of a Christian Service led by Reverend Scott Couper and is the third sermon in a series of four. A main theme from a previous sermon includes: scriptures make clear we cannot be faithful Christians without being ‘environmentalists’. Join us to expand on that statement during Sunday Service.

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Mother's Day for Peace Celebration sponsored by the Liberty Union Party For a New Day in VermontSunday, May 12th, 2019 on the Brattleboro Commons (Park Place, Brattleboro, VT, 05301).1pm-4pm. For questions or to set up a table, please call, Jess Diamondstone at 802-254-9403. Bring friends, family, a blanket, and a picnic lunch.Join in a Celebration of Peace honoring the work of the Millions of Mothers who work for Peace in Homes, on the Streets, on the Job, in Government and in protecting the Earth and all life.Would anyone like to set up a table for your organization at the celebration? We'd love to give you space to share your concerns and knowledge with the greater community through this forum, on Sunday. A staged reading of the Mother's Day Proclamation of 1870 will be part of the afternoon’s events: Mothers’ Day Proclamation Julia Ward Howe, Boston 1870“ARISE, THEN, WOMEN OF THIS DAY! ARISE ALL WOMEN WHO HAVE HEARTS, WHETHER OUR BAPTISM BE THAT OF WATER OR OF FEARS!… LET THEM THEN SOLEMNLY TAKE COUNSEL WITH EACH OTHER AS TO THE MEANS WHEREBY THE GREAT HUMAN FAMILY CAN LIVE IN PEACE… TO PROMOTE THE ALLIANCE OF THE DIFFERENT NATIONALITIES, THE AMICABLE SETTLEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL QUESTIONS, THE GREAT AND GENERAL INTERESTS OF PEACE.”Of Note:Bring a Puppet for Peace to the celebrationCraft table to make your own Peace BannerFace Painting and Music

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Pete Seeger's 100th Birthday Sing-a-long CelebrationSunday, May 12th, 2019 at All Soul’s Church (29 South Street, West Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 7pm. SOLD OUT. For more information about the concert, contact George Carvill at 802-490-2052 or family@carvill.net. Folk singer, activist, musical conscience for the U.S., Pete Seeger, would have been 100 this year. All Souls Church, 29 South Street, will host a singalong concert on Sunday, May 12, at 7 p.m. to celebrate Seeger’s music and his life-long efforts on behalf of peace, justice, and the earth.The concert will feature well-known performers with deep connections to Seeger, including Sally Rogers, Emma’s Revolution, Peter Siegel, Annie Patterson and Peter Blood.Those who attend the tribute concert will have the chance to sing together using a new songbook containing fifty classic songs Pete Seeger led throughout his life. Publishers Peter Blood and Annie Patterson of Rise Up Singing fame designed this new book for the Seeger centennial.Seeger passionately believed that singing together not only built community but could help heal our planet. Towards the end of his life he liked to say that if there’s still a world a hundred years from now it would be in large part because of people singing with each other. The performers at the concert are both terrific song leaders and activists who use their music to promote change, and who worked closely with Pete Seeger during his life.

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HAPPENING THIS WEEK, MONDAY, MAY 13th, 2019-SUNDAY, MAY 19th, 2019

Denial and Emergency in Heart and Mind (A Climate Change Discussion)Thursday, May 16th, 2019 at Brattleboro Common Sense (16 Washington Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301) in the Meeting Room. 6pm. For more information, please call Info (802) 490-9363.If the emergency is real, then by spending time on anything else we deny it. Do we really believe it? We are paralyzed thinking about the crisis, and paralyzed by denying it. This is the main barrier. Come to talk about the unseen reasons and emotions for this barrier.

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Protest Vigil at TD Banksponsored by Post Oil SolutionsFriday, May 17th, 2019 (and every Friday) at TD Bank Brattleboro (215 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT). In front of the building. 12pm-1pm.Signs will be providedTD is a major investor in Tar Sands. TD helps to fund the Dakota Access Pipeline. What You Can Do (besides attending the vigils): If you’re a TD depositor, change banks! Founded in 2005, Post Oil Solutions is a 501c3 community organizing project in Southeastern Vermont whose mission is to help empower the people of the Central Connecticut River Valley bioregion in this era of global warming and climate change to develop sustainable, resilient , collaborative, and socially just communities leading to a self- and community-sufficient post petroleum society.

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Camp for a Common CauseFriday, May 17th, 2019-Saturday, May 18th, 2019 on the Brattleboro Common (intersection of Park Place, Route 5 and Route 30 in Brattleboro, VT, 05301). Pitch tents starting at 5pm Friday; we must vacate by 10am Saturday after a light breakfast.No alcohol and no fires please. Dogs are welcome, but must remain on a leash at all times. Contact Julianne with questions or to make a reservation: 802.490.2951, email jmills@GroundworksVT.org, or go to GroundworksVT.org.Join us for this year’s overnight campout where we will raise awareness about homelessness in our community and raise funds to support Groundworks' efforts to house our neighbors experiencing homelessness.The fun starts on Friday with live music and a community barbecue! Unable to camp overnight?No problem! Join us for food and music! You can support Groundworks with a donation, and/or purchase a tent for a neighbor in need.Fundraising: Teams and individuals are asked to fundraise a suggested minimum of $100 per person to support Groundworks.PLEASE NOTE - all contributions are welcome and it costs nothing to camp.We ask participants to try to raise some money on our behalf.All contributions are tax deductible.Register Online at https://groundworks.rallybound.org/Camp2018 and ask your friends, neighbors, co-workers, and family for contributions to support your campout.

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Rootskills Spring WorkshopSaturday, May 18th, 2019 at the School for International Training (SIT 1 Kipling Rd, Brattleboro, VT 05301). 8am-6:30pm.Find out more about schedule, registration, scholarships etc on our website: https://grassrootsfund.org/tools/2019-workshopsThe Grassroots Fund's RootSkills workshops are day-long gatherings where grassroots organizers, colleagues and supporters convene to network, share stories and dig into both issue- and process-based skills-building sessions. We work with a planning committee ahead of each event to ensure a broad range of lived experiences and perspectives weigh in as we set agendas, select workshop topics and invite speakers.This event's theme will focus on racial and economic disparities as we discuss in/equity in rural, New England communities.

Be Here, Now: Civil Rights for All Banner Raising at the Brattleboro Food Coopsponsored by We Celebrate Democracy/Civil Rights for Allhosted by the Brattleboro Food CoopTuesday, May 21st, 2019 at the Brattleboro Food Coop (2 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 5pm-6pm. All who attend agree to behave nonviolently in word and deed. For info and to help: woodybernhard48@gmail.com or call 802-.257.0236.Stand with the banner for a David Shaw Postcard Photo Shoot! Join We Celebrate Democracy/Civil Rights for All and Southern Vermont Samba as we raise the banner under the Coop sign. We need help to set this up so please volunteer. We will gather under the banner. We will act-out/ham-up-dance our support for civil rights for all people as we pose for photographer David Shaw’s camera. Southern Vermont Samba will join us on the 21st. This is an opportunity for us to be photographed for posterity standing with the banner.We will make a postcard from the photograph and the postcard will be available at the Brattleboro Food Coop and to participants who signed up for it. We also plan to make it a wall calendar for 2020 which will include the postcard photo. We also hope to get our picture in the Reformer and Commons. We are dedicated to positive nonviolent public action for democracy and civil rights for all people. Join us!

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Union Supported Picket of Former Gov. of Wisconsin Scott Walker in Burlington, VTThursday, May 30th 2019. We will meet in Burlington, VT at Battery Park (Battery Park Extension, Burlington, VT 05401) at 5pm and, at 5:30pm, March South to the Hilton Hotel (60 Battery St, Burlington, VT 05401) where Scott Walker will be speaking at a VT Republican Party fundraiser. Protest begins at 5pm. If your Union or community organization would like to endorse this event, or if you have any questions, contact AFSCME Union Rep David Van Deusen at: dvandeusen@afscme93.org.Scott Walker, the disgraced former Governor of Wisconsin, is rabidly anti-Union. Walker, side by side with our own Governor Phil Scott, will be speaking at a VT Republican Party fundraiser in Burlington, at the Hilton Hotel on Battery Street; labor and other concerned community organizations will be picketing this event.• While it has not yet been confirmed, we hope and expect a pro-Labor marching band to lead the march;• We shall picket the Scott Walker event on the sidewalk directly in front of the hotel;• We shall also rally in the small strip of park directly in front of the hotel and across Battery Street from the sidewalk;• The tone of the picket will reflect both our anger at the Vermont Republican Party for inviting Scott Walker’s extremist-anti-labor ideology into our state, but will also be a celebration of our power as Union members connected to our communities;LET’S SEND SCOTT WALKER AND HIS UNION BUSTING WAYS PACKING! CALLING ALL TO THE PICKET LINES!The Union/Anti-Scott Walker Picket has thus far been endorsed by the following Unions and community organizations: Picket Endorsed By: Vermont State Labor Council AFL-CIO, Vermont Building Trades Council AFL-CIO, Green Mountain Central Labor Council AFL-CIO, AFSCME Local 490 (Bennington County), AFSCME Local 1201 (Rutland & Addison Counties), AFSCME Local 1343 (Chittenden & Franklin Counties), AFSCME Local 1369 (Washington County), AFSCME Local 1674 (Howard Center), AFSCME Local 2413 (Northeast Kingdom), AFSCME Local 3797 (Windsor County), AFSCME Local 3977 (Lamoille County Mental Health), AFSCME Local 4802 (VT Home Healthcare), IBEW Local 300, Laborers' International Union of North America (VT), USW Local 4, AFT-Vermont, United Academics at UVM, Vermont State Employees’ Association, VSEA Chittenden County Chapter, Central Vermont Chapter of the VSEA, Vermont Workers Center, Vermont Labor United, Vermont Woman’s March, Vermonters For A New Economy, Green Mountain John Brown Gun Club, Vermont Progressive Party, Burlington Progressive Party, Vermont House of Representatives Progressive Party Caucus, Vermont Liberty Union Party, Vermont Democratic Party.

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Pride Family Picnichosted by Green Mountain CrossroadsSunday, June 2nd, 2019 at Living Memorial Park (61 Guilford Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301) at the Kiwani’s Pavilion at the top of the hill. 11am-2pm.The much anticipated PRIDE FAMILY PICNIC hosted by Green Mountain Crossroads is back! One of the only events each year in southern Vermont where LGBTQ parents and kids (of all ages!) come together and get to celebrate the community, visibility, knowledge, and power of LGBTQIA+ people with their families. Bring a dish to share! GMC will provide watermelon, drinks (kid-friendly), hot dogs (meat, turkey, and tofu), buns, and condiments. Find us all the way at the top of Living Memorial Park!

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SUMMER CAMPS

Farm to Ballet Performance Camp for Kids at Retreat Farmpresented by Ballet Vermont and Retreat FarmMonday, July 15th, 2019-Friday, July 19th, 2019 at Retreat Farm (45 Farmhouse Square, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 9am-3:30*pm. *Paid aftercare option of 3:30pm-4:30pm for an additional $50. Please go to www.balletvermont.org for performance tickets. Your camper can dance on the big stage with Farm to Ballet! Campers who participate in this camp will perform the choreography they learn at camp as the pre-show to Farm to Ballet's Retreat Farm show. Camp week will include daily ballet class, farm and garden exploration, activities, and craft. Dancers will work on choreography and craft costumes in addition to other activities to prepare for the big Farm to Ballet performance.

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UPRISE Youth Activism Camp (Ages 13-19)Sunday, July 28th, 2019-Sunday, August 4th, 2019 in Marshfield, VT. For more information please go here: https://www.uprisecampvt.org.We're inviting youth ages 13-19 to the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont for one amazing week of teen empowerment, creativity, action, and friendship -- all while strategizing for our collective future. As mentors with a broad spectrum of skills, we are passionate about empowering teens as organizers, change makers, and allies in our rapidly changing world. The cost of the camp is $450 for the week, but please feel more than welcome to ask us about scholarships. Bring your hopes and fears for the future, your unique style and skills, your passion and ideas -- but most of all, bring yourself, just as you are -- and join us!Youth interested in attending Uprise! are asked to go through a short application form process. The application will give us an idea of who’s interested in the camp and help our team make this camp accessible and awesome for everyone. There are financial aid questions at the end of the application. You can find information on the application process here.

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RESOURCE FOR WeCAN: Rapid Response Text Alert SystemWhen WeCAN began, Song & Solidarity set up a Rapid Response Text Alert System for WeCAN Groups. Directions for signing up are on WeCAN's website, here: https://www.wecantogether.net/rapid_response We were reminded of the Rapid Response text alerts system as President Trump moves towards firing Mueller. In the event Mueller is fired, MoveOn is planning a nation-wide simultaneous protest. The trick will be to get the word out fast if/when the time comes. We are grateful to Song and Solidarity for providing this service.

Brattleboro State Representatives’ Updates and Community ConversationFirst Saturday of the Month, alternating between 10am and 4pm (2.2.19 was at 10am). Location information to follow. Childcare available upon request by contacting EmilieKornheiser@gmail.com.As promised, all three of your Brattleboro State Representatives, Mollie Burke, Emilie Kornheiser, and Tristan Toleno, will gather in Brattleboro to host a community conversation and share updates from the first few weeks of the legislative session. Our series of monthly conversations— scheduled for the first Saturday of the month— will alternate between 10am and 4pm.

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Women Veterans Weekly Coffee and Tea SocialThursday Mornings at Brattleboro Legion Post 5 Inc. (32 Linden Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 9am-10am.All female veterans are invited to join in the Women Veterans group coffee held at the American Legion.All women veterans are welcome. You do not need to be a Legion member.

Meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month from 5:30pm-8pm.For more information please contact Youth 4 Change at youth4changeaction@gmail.com.Agenda:5:30pm: Drop in homework time and art making6:00pm: Food6:30pm: Meeting and OrganizingYouth 4 Change is for local-area youth 12-22 interested in political organizing around local/state/national social justice issues that are important to them. Brattleboro area advocates and educators are holding a space, and assisting youth in building a strong personal tool kit to organize for change. Using a variety of creative methods, we aim to enable youth with tools for resilience, courage and compassion, while fostering their ability to speak up about issues that matter to them, and to take action in the name of love and liberation for all people. Come explore issues of racial, economic and gender justice through art, movement, first-hand accounts and contemplative practices. Connect with area youth around the issues that matter to you and strengthen your tool kit for action!

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Windham County NAACP Regular MeetingsMonthly community meetings are held on the third Thursday of every month at The Root Center for Social Justice (The Whetstone Studio for the Arts, 28 Williams Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301) on the First Floor from 6pm-7pm.Upcoming Meetings: 3/21/19; 4/18/19; 5/16/19. For more information please email info@windhamnaacp.org. All are welcome. The meetings are open to anyone interested in racial justice. The Mission of the NAACP is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.

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ONGOING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING

Indigo RadioSundays at 12pm on Brattleboro Community Radio 107.7FMTo stream live: Visit www.wvew.org Indigo Radio, deepening understanding and making connections! IndigoRadio is a group of area educators seeking to learn through engaging with others in our community and throughout the world. We will be talking about educational and social issues both globally and locally and connecting them to our lives and Brattleboro community. Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/indigoradiowvew/. For archive recordings of past shows: https://soundcloud.com/user-654648353.

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Thank you for all that you do each and every week, friends. We look forward to seeing you at an event soon.